Power bender



May 16, 1939.

C. P. CHAMBERLIN ET AL POWER BENDER Filed May l1, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet l A Troie/VE Ys'.

Patented May 16, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE POWER BENDER Application May 11, 1938, Serial No. 207,348

8v Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for bending metal, and particularly to apparatus that is adapted to bend strips of metal of various crosssectional configurations into a predetermined shape. v

One of the primary objects of the present invention is to provide an improved and simplified `apparatus for bending metal strips of generally channel section into shapes adapted for use as the frames of automobile window openings.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved metal bending apparatus having a rotating die of non-circular shape, which cooperates with an ironer element, and which is so constructed that the center of the die moves toward and from the ironer element during the bending operation, whereby the sharper bends may be made more readily and whereby the shaping along the flatter portion may be made with greater speed.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved apparatus that will shape a predetermined length of metal into a closed frame of noncircular shape in a single, simple operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved and simplified metal bending machine which may be readily adapted to bend metal frames of various sizes and shape.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved metal bending machine which is economical in both construction and operation.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following specification, the drawings relating thereto, and from the claims hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings, in which like numerals are used to designate like parts in the several views throughout:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a bending apparatus imparting the features of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged partial top plan view with parts broken away of the structure illustrated in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken substanarticle such as that produced by the apparatus illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6.

The present invention is particularly used for forming garnish moldings which provide the frames for automobile window openings. Such 5 frames are generally non-circular in shape and are generally elongated so that certain portions of the frame are a greater distance from the geometrical center of the frame than other portions thereof. which the strips of metal are bent to provide the frames, is of correspondingly non-circular shape and to bend such frames with the accuracy and speed that the trade demands has been a serious problem. In metal bending machines of the type to which the present invention is directed, an ironer element is provided which resiliently bears against one side of the metal strip and forces the strip against the face of the die as the die is rotated. When the die is of non-circular shape, certain portions of the frame have relatively sharp bends, and other portions have relatively ilat bends for substantial distances. So that the sharp bends may be properly made and so that the relatively fiat bends may be made with considerable speed, the present invention provides a structure in which the die is mounted for both rotation and reciprocation relative to the ironer element during the bend operation. The reciprocation of the die during the shaping of the relatively long, substantially flat bends provides a component of movement along with the rotation of the die so that the shaping of these portions is speedily accomplished. While the ironer element is mounted for a slight amount of movement, this amount of movement is considerably reduced with the structure of the present invention due to the movement of the geometrical center of the die relative to the ironer element during the bending Operation.

Referring to the drawings, an embodiment of the present invention is illustrated which includes a stationary, rigid table I0 forming the machine base which may be mounted on the oor. A ring member I2 having .a substantially circular trackway I4 therein of predetermined diameter is removably and stationarily mounted on the base I0 by means of screws I6 or the like.

The upper edges of the ring member I2 serve to slidably support a die I8 of predetermined configuration. The die I8 has Y an outwardly disposed Working face 20 around the periphery thereof which is of the shape of the molding to be formed. The die I8 and its working face 20 are of non-circular shape and are generally al'. nlated A die having a working face, against 10 so that certain portions of the working face are a greater distance from the geometric center of the die than other portions thereof. In the present illustration, the die is elongated and generally rectangular in shape with rounded corners. It is to be understood, however, that the die may be of other shapes so that moldings of other shapes may be formed. A top plate 22 of substantially the same shape as the die and slightly overlapping the top edge of the working face 20 is removably secured to the top of the die by means of screws 24 or the like.

The molding 26 is formed of a substantially straight strip of metal stock of predetermined length having a non-planar cross-sectional configuration generally of channel shape such as that shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The straight stripl is applied to the machine and bent to the shape shown in Fig. 7 by one complete revolution of the die, and the ends of the strip are preferably welded or otherwise secured together to form the completed frame.

The die I8 and the top plate 22 are of such a shape that a portion thereof is inset and gradually sloped outwardly as indicated at 28 providing a shoulder 30. One end of the strip 26 is positioned against the working face of the die I8 so that that end abuts against the shoulder 30. In order to clamp the strip to the die, a clamping means is provided which includes a plate member 32 having an inwardly directed tongue 34 which is adapted to bear against the molding strip 26. 'Ihe plate 32 is slidably mounted on the top of the die I8 and is received within a recess 36 formed in the top plate 22. A generally square opening 38 is provided through the plate 32 and receives therein a substantially round cam member 49 which is of a diameter substantially equal to the transverse width of the opening 38. The member 48 has a shaft member 42 with an aligned lower portion 44 formed integral therewith and offset from the center of the cam member 48. The lower portion 44 is received within a complementary round recess in the top of the die 8 and the upper portion of the shaft is rotatably received within an opening in a plate member 48. The plate member 48 is xed to the top member 22 through an opening 58 therein, The top of the shaft 42 has a crank handle 52 attached thereto, so that upon rotation of the crank handle 52 the clamping plate 32 is caused to slide on the top of the die I8 because of the cam action of the cam 40 within the opening 38 so that the plate member 32 may be moved to clamping or non-clamping positions.

A die member 54 having a tail portion 56 pivotally connected thereto through a link 58 is provided which is engaged within the outer face 0f the molding strip 26. The die elements 54 and 56 have working faces thereon which are complementary in shape to the transverse shape of the outwardly disposed face of the strip 26 so that the die elements 54 and 56 in cooperation with the work face 20 of the die I8 engage opposite faces of the strip 26 as the strip 26 is bent around the die I 8.

The die elements 54 and 56 form an ironer element which is removably attached to a head member 68. The head member 60 is pivotally connected by means of a substantially vertical pivot pin 62 to a rod member 64 which is received within a sliding block 66. The rod 64 and sliding block 66 may be of a construction and slidable arrangement such as that disclosed in the c0- copending application above referred to.

pending application of Chamberlin et al. Serial No. 166,385, led September 29, 1937.

In order to resiliently urge the head 68 and, consequently, the die members 54 and 56 toward the work face of the die I8, a mounting bracket 68 is provided which may be xedly secured to the table I Il. An air cylinder 'I8 having communicating air conduits 'I2 and I4 at opposite ends thereof may be mounted to the plate member 68 substantially in the same manner as in the A piston 'I6 having a piston rod 'I8 associated therewith extends through one end of the cylinder 'I8 and is attached to the sliding block 66 so that upon reciprocation of the piston 'I6 the block 66 with the head 68 is resiliently urged toward and from the vworldng face of the die. The control means for the cylinder 'I8 may also be such as those disclosed in the copending application referred to. It is pointed out, however, that in the present structure the length of stroke of the piston I6 need not be as great as in the copending application referred to because of the reciprocating movement of the die, which will become more apparent from the following description.

In order to transmit the rotative movement to the die I8 and permit the reciprocating movement thereof', longitudinally extending members 88 of angle section are'xed to the under surface of the top member 22 by means of screws 82 or the like to form longitudinally extending guideways 84.

A substantially vertical rotating shaft 96 having an enlarged head 92 is rotatably mounted to the table I9. The enlarged head 92 is received within a substantially circular and shouldered recess 94 in the table I8 which serves to support the shaft 96. The driving means for the shaft are not shown but may be such as those disclosed in the copending application referred to for driving the shaft to which the rotating die is connected in that application The enlarged head 92 may be in the form of a collar which is received over the top end 96 of the shaft and is xed thereto so that the head 92 rotates with the shaft. The top end 96 of the shaft extends upwardly beyond the head 92, and a guide block 98 having a central opening 99 therethrough is received over the end 96 of the shaft 98 and rests on the head 92. So that the block 98 rotates with the shaft 90, complementary keyways are formed on the block 98 and the enlarged head 92 which are adapted to receive therein a key |0|. The block 98 is preferably square and two of its opposite substantially straight sides are provided with recesses IBI therein which are complementary in shape to the trackways 84 formed by the members 89 so that themembers 88 may slide relative to the block 98 along the trackway 84.

The rotation of the shaft 99 and the block 98 is imparted to the die I8 through the members 88 and the top 22, while the die I8 may slide relative to the block 98 along the trackway 84.

In order to provide the sliding or reciprocating movement of the .die I8, a roller |84 is rotatably mounted upon a shaft member |06. This shaft member |86 is received within an opening |98 in one end of the die I8 and is fixed thereto by means of a set screw III), or the like. The roller I 04 has a diameter substantially equal to the width of the trackway I4 and is slidably received therein. As the die I8 is caused to move by the block 98, the travel of the roller |94 with the trackway I4 causes sliding or reciprocating move- Cil ment of the die I8 along the trackway 84 relative to the block 98. The geometrical center of the die I8 is thereby moved toward and from the ironer element 54 and 56 so that very slight and limited reciprocating moverme-nt of the ironer element takes place and-thefbends at the corners of the die may be readily made. By the combined rotation and reciprocation of the die, the movement along the relatively long, substantially :dat portions of the die may be speedily accomplished.

It is pointed out that the present invention may be readily adapted to bend moldings of various sizes. This may be accomplished merely by changing the size of the ring I2 and the die I8. It has been found that by providing a circular trackway I4 which has an outside diameter substantially equal to the longitudinal length of the die, moldings of various sizes may be formed according to the present invention. The rings I2 are simple and economical to manufacture and a substitution of one ring for another may be readily made so that the machine may be very easily changed to form moldings of various shapes and sizes. It is also pointed out that the parts used to provide the structure of the present invention are relatively rugged and are of a simple character so that relatively few moving parts are necessary to accomplish the functions of the machine. Fine adjustments are also unnecessary to accomplish proper and speedy bending of the molding to the accurate dimensions required by the trade.

Formal changes may be made in the specific embodiment of the invention described without departing from the spirit and substance of the invention, the scope of which is commensurate With the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A metal bending machine comprising a stationary table, a die rotatably mounted on said table, means for rotating said die, said die having a Working face against which the metal is bent during the rotation of the die so shaped that certain of the Working portions of the face are more distant from the geometrical center of the die than other portions, an ironer element for yieldably holding the Work against the Working face of the die, and stationary means mounted on said table and engaged by said die so constructed that as the die rotates the geometrical center of the. die moves toward and from said ironer element during the bending operation.

2. A metal bending machine comprising a stationary table, a die rotatably mounted on said table, means for rotating said die, said die having a Working face against which the metal is bent yduring the rotation of the die, said Working face being so shaped that portions thereof are more distant from the geometrical center of the die than other portions, an ironer element for yieldably holding the Work against the Working face of the die, and means forming a trackway stationarily mounted on said table, means providing engagement between said die and said trackivay, said trackway being so constructed that as the die rotates the geometrical center of the die moves toward and from said ironer element during the bending operation.

3. A metal bending machine comprising a stationary table, an elongated die rotatably mounted on said table, means for rotating said die, said die having a Working face against which the metal is bent during the rotation of the die, an ironer element for yieldably holding the Work against the Working face of the die, a member forming a trackway mounted 'on said table, means, onsaid die slidably engaged in said trackway, said trackway being so constructed that as the die rotates the geometrical center of the die moves toward and from saidironer element during the bending operation.

4. A metal bending machine comprising a stationary table, a die rotatably mounted on said table, means for rotating said die, said die having a working face against which the metal is bent during the rotation of the die, an ironer element for yieldably holding the Work against the working face of the die, a stationary ring member forming a substantially circular trackway mounted on said table, means on said die providing engagement between said die and said trackway, said trackway being so constructed that as the die rotates the geometrical center of. the die moves toward and from said ironer element during the bending operation.

5. A metal bending machine comprising a stationary table, a die mounted for rotation and reciprocation relative to said table, means for rotating said die, said die being elongated and having a Working face against which the metal is bent during the rotation of the die, an ironer element for yieldably holding the work against the Working face of the die, a member forming a trackway stationarily mounted on said table, means providing engagement between said trackway and said die, said trackway being so constructed that as the die rotates it also reciprocates relative to the table during the bending operation.

6. A metal bending machine comprising a stationary` table, an elongated die mounted for rotation and reciprocation relative to said table, means for rotating said die, said die having a working face against which the metal is bent during the rotation of the die, an ironer element for yieldably holding the Work against the Working face of the trackway, a member forming a substantially circular trackway stationarily mounted on said table, means on one end of said die slidably engaged Within said trackway, said trackway being so constructed that as the die rotates it also reciprocates relative to said table during the bending operation.

7. A metal bending machine comprising a stationary table, an elongated die mounted for rotation and reciprocation relative to said table, means for rotating said die, said die having a working face against which the metal is bent during the rotation of the die, an ironer element for yieldably holding the work against the working face of the die, a member forming a substantially circular trackway mounted on said table, said trackway having an outside diameter substantially the same as the longitudinal length of said die, means on one end of said die slidably engaged in said trackway, whereby upon rotation of said die it reciprocates relative to said table during the bending operation.

8. A metal bending machine comprising a stationary table, an elongated die mounted on said table, a rotating shaft mounted on said table substantially normal to the surface thereof and positioned under said die, a block member mounted for rotation with said shaft, means forming a trackway longitudinally of said die and flxed relative thereto, complementary means on said block member cooperating With said last named means so that said die may reciprocate relative to said shaft, said die having a Working face against which the metal is bent during the rotation of the die, an ironer element for yeldbeing so constructed that as the die rotates the ably holding the Work against the Working face geometrical center of the die moves toward and of. the die, a member forming a trackway stafrom said ironer element during the bending tonarily mounted on said table, means on one operation.

, end of said die extending into said last named CLARENCE P. CHAMBERLIN. 5

trackway and providing sliding engagement be- JOHN H. TONER. tween said die and said trackway, said trackway 

